While the Republican Party prepares for its Sept. 1-4 national convention here in St. Paul, the Democrats are doing the same thing in Denver. And both groups keep looking for ways to generate interest in the preparations.

In Denver, the Democrats on Monday announced special rewards for the state delegations that demonstrate the highest level of commitment to offsetting the carbon footprint they create by attending their convention in late August. The winners will get better seats in the arena.

As part of that challenge, the Democratic National Convention Committee is working with Native Energy, which promotes community-based clean energy projects. One of those projects is a wind turbine on a family farm in Rosedell Township, in the far southwestern corner of Minnesota.

Said DNCC CEO Leah Daughtry: "And as everyone knows, this isn't a competition, but... in recognition of the Republican National Convention, we also decided to help out some of our friends in Minnesota by contributing to another wind turbine project — out there in Rosedell Township."

Everyone at the press conference laughed.